Interrogative Pronouns used for asking questions

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Interrogative Pronouns

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS

What Are Interrogative Pronouns?

"Interrogative Pronouns are question words used to enquire (ask questions) about person or thing that we do not know about."

The word ‘interrogate’ means to ask question. An interrogative pronoun is used when asking questions. It take the place of subject or object in the sentence. Interrogative pronouns allow us to build a question around the thing that the pronoun refers to.

There are five main interrogative pronouns:

(1) What, (2) Who (3) Whom, (4) Which and (5) Whose.

(1) Use of 'What' :

'What' – Used to ask questions about people or objects.

Examples:

• What do you want for dinner?
• I wonder what we’re doing tomorrow.
• What is your friend’s name?
• What time are we supposed to be there?

(2) Use of 'Who':

'Who' – Used to ask questions about people.

Examples:

• Who is that?
• Who was driving the car?
• Who is going to take out the trash?
• I’m wondering who will be at the party.

(3) Use of 'Whom':

'Whom' – Used to ask questions about people. This interrogative pronoun is rarely seen these days.

Examples:

• Whom did you speak to?
• Whom do you live with?
• You should ask whom to call.
• Whom do you prefer to vote for?

(4) Use of 'Which':

'Which' – Used to ask questions about people or objects.

Examples:

• Which color do you prefer?
• Which seat would you like?
• She asked which train to take.
• Which of these ladies is your mother?

(5) Use of 'Whose':

'Whose' – Used to ask questions about people or objects, always related to possession.

Examples:

• Whose phone is that?
• Whose sweater is this?
• Whose parents are those?
• I wonder whose dog knocked our garbage can over.

Uses of Interrogative Pronouns with suffix –ever or suffix –soever.

In some cases, interrogative pronouns take on the suffix –ever. A few can also take on the old-fashioned suffix –soever, which is rarely seen in writing these days.

Use of Whoever, Whatever, Whichever, Whomever and Whosever: